Biking is increasingly popular in Rock Springs, WY. While it’s a great way to exercise, commute, and enjoy the outdoors, it can also be dangerous.
With more vehicles on the roads, accidents are becoming more common. Bicycle accident victims often sustain serious injuries that have significant personal and financial hardships.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a bike accident in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers can help. For over 40 years, our Rock Springs bicycle accident attorneys have fought for the rights of accident victims.
Contact us at 307-222-7440 to discuss your rights or schedule a free consultation with a Rock Springs bicycle accident lawyer.
How Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Rock Springs Bicycle Accident
Bicycle accidents can be life-changing events. Victims are often left with a difficult recovery and significant medical expenses. If another driver caused your accident, you could be entitled to compensation for expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Getting that compensation can be difficult. Insurance companies are notoriously difficult to deal with and have teams of people working to minimize claims. The process can be overwhelming for victims, especially as they focus on recovering from their injuries.
If you’re dealing with a personal injury claim after a bike accident, let an experienced Rock Springs bicycle accident lawyer handle your case so you can maximize your compensation and focus on getting your life back to normal.
For decades, Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers has been fighting hard for accident victims. We have over 100 years of combined experience and have recovered thousands of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients.
Our results speak for themselves, and our team is committed to fighting hard for every client.
When you work with our Rock Springs personal injury lawyers, we’ll:
- Thoroughly investigate your case to determine all parties responsible for your accident
- Gather evidence to prove who was responsible for your accident
- Calculate the value of your case
- File a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Negotiate to ensure you get a fair settlement
- Advise you on settlement value and how to respond to offers
- If necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit and represent you in court
- Defend you against claims that you were at fault for the accident
- Keep you updated on the status of your case
- Handle all administrative tasks and case correspondence
Personal injury claims can be difficult and time-consuming to navigate. Our Rock Springs personal injury attorneys will handle all aspects of your case and work hard to get the best outcome possible.
To learn more, schedule a free case evaluation.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in Wyoming?
Bicycle fatalities in the United States have increased dramatically over the last decade after hitting their lowest point more than a decade ago. Cities are the most dangerous place for bikers, with 82% of deaths taking place in urban areas. While Wyoming is one of the safer states for bikers, the trending data across the United States is concerning.
With more bikers and cars on the roads, bike cycle accidents are an increasing concern. Bikers can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by wearing a helmet, not riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol, and complying with all traffic laws.
How Much Is My Rock Springs Bicycle Case Worth?
One of the first questions from new clients is, how much is my personal injury case worth? It makes sense because bicycle accidents usually leave victims with a major financial burden.
As a general rule, the more severe your injuries, the more your case is worth. Beyond that, it’s hard to estimate the value of cases without knowing the facts.
Case values vary significantly based on several factors, including:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- The amount of medical expenses
- Whether or not you have a long-term disability
- The impact your injuries have on your ability to work
- The impact your injuries have on your earning capacity
- The amount of pain you’ve suffered
- Whether or not you’re partly at fault
- The amount of applicable insurance policies
Our team will evaluate all aspects of your accident to determine the value of your case. We know how important it is to get the value of your case right. You only have one opportunity to get compensation for your current and future expenses.
Call us today at 307-222-7440 to schedule a free case evaluation to discuss how much your claim is worth.
What Damages Are Available in Wyoming Bicycle Accident Cases?
When someone else is responsible for your accident, you can recover damages to compensate you for all of your losses. Damages are awarded to put injured parties in the same position they were in before the accident.
Compensatory damages are awarded to make you whole after an accident. You can recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate victims for monetary losses after an accident.
These are losses that can be calculated and documented and include:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation therapy expenses
- Home care and home service costs
- Lost income
- Lost earning potential
You can also recover non-economic losses to compensate you for your more abstract losses after an accident. These compensate you for your emotional distress and suffering after an accident.
Examples of non-economic losses include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Calculating damages is a complex process, especially if you have ongoing medical expenses and care needs. Our team will gather documentation, review records, and work with expert witnesses to determine the current and future value of your losses.
Common Causes of Wyoming Bicycle Accidents
The unfortunate reality is that most bicycle accidents can be avoided. Most cycling accidents are caused by negligence.
Some of the most common causes of Rock Springs bike crashes are:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Texting while driving
- Failure to comply with traffic lights or traffic signs
- Lane departure
- Failure to give bicycles enough space on the road
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
Drivers must share the road with cyclists and give them adequate space on the road. Drivers also must comply with traffic laws and drive safely.
Similarly, cyclists need to comply with traffic laws, wear reflective gear, and take extra precautions after dark.
If the negligence of a driver, another cyclist, or a pedestrian caused your accident, you could have a personal injury claim against them. Contact our team today to discuss your rights.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
Bike accident injuries are often severe. Cyclists are exposed and don’t have protection against the impact and force of vehicles.
Some common injuries from bike accidents include:
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Nerve injuries
- Soft tissue injuries, road rash
- Burns
- Crushing injuries
- Broken bones
- Degloving injuries
- Organ damage
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
If you’re involved in a bike accident, seek medical care immediately. If you need emergency treatment, call 9-1-1 from the accident site. Otherwise, have a friend or family member take you from the accident scene to get medical treatment.
Getting prompt medical treatment will improve your long-term prognosis. It will also ensure that all of your injuries are identified and treated. It is common for victims to be in shock after an accident. This can mask pain and make it difficult to identify problems.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Partly at Fault for a Rock Springs Bike Accident?
It’s common for the responsible party to try to blame cyclists for accidents. This is a way for the liable party to avoid or reduce their responsibility for the accident.
Wyoming follows a legal approach of modified comparative negligence. Under this theory, victims can recover as long as they’re not more than 50% at fault for an accident. If a cyclist is more than 50% at fault, they cannot recover damages from other responsible parties.
This means you can still recover damages if you’re not more than 50% at fault, but your damages will be reduced by the proportion of your fault. For example, if you’re 20% responsible for a crash, your damages award will be reduced by 20%.
Victim blaming is a common strategy for insurance companies and defense attorneys. Our team is familiar with this strategy and knows how to defend against it. If you’re being blamed for your bike accident, contact a Rock Springs personal injury lawyer to ensure your rights are protected.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Rock Springs, Wyoming?
In Wyoming, personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they only get paid if their client gets paid.
At the start of the representation, the attorney and client will agree on a contingency fee rate. This is the percentage of a settlement or verdict that will go to the attorney to cover fees. This is usually between 25% and 40%.
Clients do not pay attorney fees upfront or out-of-pocket. Your personal injury lawyer will only get paid if you get compensated through a settlement or jury verdict.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Bicycle Accident in Wyoming?
After a bicycle accident in Wyoming, you only have four years to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Once the statute of limitations runs, you are barred from recovering compensation in court.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Rock Springs Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one have been injured in a Rock Springs, Wyoming, bike accident, contact Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers. Our team of experienced Rock Springs bicycle accident lawyers will fight hard to ensure you get the compensation you need and deserve.
Contact us at 307-222-7440, or visit our Rock Springs personal injury office to schedule a free case evaluation.
